PHILADELPHIA — Advantage, Yankees.
Can a team that hit .222 in the first two games of the World Series, is batting a putrid .200 with runners in scoring position in those games and has bullpen issues be the favorite in a best-of-seven Series that is tied 1-1 going into tonight’s Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park?
When the next three pitching matchups likely will be the Yankees’ Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett against the Phillies’ Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and Cliff Lee, respectively, the answer is “Yes.”
The moment Phillies manager Charlie Manuel opted not to pitch Lee, who dominated the Yankees in Game 1, on three days’ rest in Game 4, the pendulum swung toward the Yankees. The Phillies needed somebody to match Sabathia in Game 4 and though Blanton isn’t the answer, Lee isn’t ready to go.
“He’s at 265 innings and he’s never pitched on three days’ rest, although I talked to him and he told me he had,” Manuel said of Lee. “I also like him in Game 5. I don’t think he is ready for [Game 4] on three days’ rest and I think you are really pushing him, and we definitely don’t want to hurt him.”
As for using Sabathia on Sunday and Burnett on Monday on three days’ rest, Yankees manager Joe Girardi didn’t confirm it, but strongly hinted he is leaning that way. Chad Gaudin is the only option if Sabathia doesn’t pitch Game 4.
“We have had [Sabathia] prepare [to start Game 4] because it would be silly to not do that and then say, ‘Uh-oh, CC, you are starting Game 4,’ ” Girardi said.
Sabathia was the Game 1 loser, allowing two runs in seven innings. He was out-pitched by Lee, who went nine frames and gave up an unearned run.
Asked if he will prepare Burnett to also pitch on three days’ rest, Girardi said, “Yes we will.”
Sabathia and Burnett both said they didn’t know when they would pitch next.
“It doesn’t [change preparation],” said Sabathia, who won’t throw a bullpen session between starts. “I threw on flat ground today and I’ll just wait for them to make a decision. I’m good either way. So we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
No matter who pitches for the Phillies, the Yankees need to hit better than they did in the first two games. Alex Rodriguez is 0-for-8 and on a record pace for strikeouts with six.
Considering how Rodriguez carried the Yankees’ lineup in the ALDS and ALCS, they are fortunate to be even in the World Series with his bat stifled.
“No question,” Rodriguez said. “My teammates picked me up big time [in Game 2]. Tex [Mark Teixeira] and [Hideki] Matsui had big nights. I look forward to contributing. What I am doing is simple: I am swinging at balls out of the strike zone. You have to lay off that.”
Asked if Lee and Game 2 starter Pedro Martinez gave him something new to look at, Rodriguez said they didn’t.
“Philadelphia is doing the same thing everybody has done for 15 years, throw in hard and soft away,” Rodriguez said.
Based on a small sample, Rodriguez may not break out against the left-handed Hamels, who has fanned the Yankees third baseman four times and walked him once in five plate appearances.
A game-tying homer in Game 2 aside, Teixeira has been quiet, hitting .196 (9-for-46) with two homers and six RBIs in 11 postseason games.
Teixeira’s explanation? Better pitchers.
“During the season you’re facing a five-man rotation. Let’s face it, some teams don’t put out five good starters,” Teixeira said. “When you’re in the postseason, it’s three- or four-man rotations and because it’s the World Series, it’s three or four of the best pitchers in baseball. You’re never going to see the same offense that you see in the [regular season].”